Jews Watch Talks in Paris; Fate of Tunisian Jewry Involved

Interested Jewish circles here were watching the talks today between French Premier-designate Antoine Pinay and Tunisian Premier Tahar ben Ammar, trying to establish how the Jewish position in Tunisia would shape up under plans for the future of that North African country being worked out by the two Premiers.

The Jewish point of view was made clear to the French Government when the Cabinet was headed by Pierre Mendes-France. Tunisia’s Jews would like to have certain guarantees incorporated in any reforms agreed upon by France and Tunis. They are particularly interested in the principle of full equality of rights, without distinction on grounds of religion. They seek equality in government aid to religious institutions, in welfare assistance, in the right to hold public office and in elections to Tunisian Government bodies.

These demands had also been presented to the French authorities by American and other Jewish leaders interested in the fate of Tunisian Jewry. They requested that assurances to this effect be incorporated in the conventions which had been formulated under M. Mendes-France by French and Tunisian representatives as the basis for the new regime in Tunisia. They also wanted such assurances included in any Tunisian constitution that would be drawn up.

Whether these demands will have to be repeated to the new head of the French Cabinet is uppermost in the minds of leaders of Jewish groups here. Meanwhile, the Tunisian premier left Paris today for Tunis to inform the Bey of Tunis about his talks with M. Pinay.